Chinese prehistoric traditional painting

Traditional Chinese painting dates back to the Neolithic period about 6,000 years ago. The excavated colored pottery with painted human faces, fish, deer and frogs indicates that the Chinese began painting as far back as the Neolithic period. Over the centuries, the growth of Chinese painting unavoidably reflected the change of time and social conditions.

In its earliest stage, Chinese prehistoric paintings were closely associated to other primitive crafts, such as pottery, bronzeware, carved jade and lacquer.

Following the introduction of Buddhism to China during the first century from India, and the carvings on grottoes and temple building that ensue, the art of painting religious murals slowly gained prominence.

China plunged into a situation of divided states from the third to the sixth century, where incessant wars and succession of dynasties sharpened the thinking of Chinese artists which, in turn, promoted the development of art. Grotto murals, stone carvings, wall murals in tomb chambers, brick carvings and lacquer paintings flourished in a period deemed very important to the development of traditional Chinese painting.